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Old 05-04-2009, 10:50 AM   #16
jonreading
 
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Dojo: Aikido South
Location: Johnson City, TN
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Thoughts on technique

The best way I have heard this explained to me is that aikido is a doctrine - a set of principles and morals of martial conduct. The techniques of aikido are physical manifestations of aikido principles. So in dialogue with the original post, I would suppose that aikido techniques demonstrate for what we stand. That leaves learning technique as a conditioning phase of training that leads to a greater understanding of the philosophy of aikido.

I think we run into trouble when those of us who do not know the larger picture demonstrate technique as either the end product, or worse, when we mis-interpret the application of technique, thus also mis-interpreting the doctrine of aikido. The argument then becomes how does one successfully learn to employ technique as a step in training towards not needing to employ technique?

Last edited by jonreading : 05-04-2009 at 10:53 AM.
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